THE POTATO’S HISTORY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 9

THE POTATO’S HISTORY

Many Varieties Grown RECOLLECTIONS OF EXPERT

S?“ e Of . tte old nTt h ° f potato< ' s of the past are recalled by Mr T D Christchurch, in an htetnn h » written on the potato in New n<na l ? nd ' T he old phase of potato growing and marketing nas gone for ever and with it ® I ’"*® w ' e l J l ffe of the old sorts which I have handled in the way of business but are now only a memory to us old hands, he says.

Lennie says the history of the potato starts in almost recent times. Knowledge of it goes back for fewer than 400 years. It was known in Europe several w ea j; S before its introduction in by , Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585, for long before that Spain had large interests in Peru, where the potato originated. Three _ types of tubers, white to purple in colour and not nearly as attractive in shape and colour as present-day varieties, are among Mr Lennie’s early recollections of. potatoes. “I can remember my father growing one of them at Invercargill for collection purposes more than 60 years ago. It was flattish oval with purple markings and its characteristics can easily be traced in the old Tasmanian Derwent and Irish Skerry Blue, which were still popular at the time I speak of.*’ Early Varieties Once the potato was accepted for its commercial potentialities. British growers were foremost in the raising of new varieties. The various phases in the development of the potato can be traced in the varieties that have since been grown.

The early colonists in New Zealand brought the Derwent, Skerry Blues, Lapstone Kidney, Magnum Bcnum, British Queen, Gamekeeper, and these were the varieties grown up till the end of the last century, when Findlays Up to Date was everybody’s choice for shape and quality—flattish oval white with shallow eyes. Sutton’s Supreme and Arran Chief were its nearest rivals, and these have persisted until the present-day favourite, the Aucklander, was evolved by selection only a few years ago. Old Seed Lists

“It intrigues me to think back over the years of the various sorts of potatoes handled and grown for commercial purposes by our old firm in Invercargill,” continues Mr Lennie. “In our seed catalogue of 1914, 24 varieties of early and second early were listed and eight maincrop and a Peruvian purple skin. “The retail prices ranged from Is 6d to 2s 6d for 141 b to 8s to 12s a cwt. Arran Chief was not on the list. Great Scot was a novelty, and with the Peruvian sold at 6d a lb. Some older readers may remember Early Puritan, Duke of York, Dalmeny Beauty, Beauty of Hebron, and others of similar repute.”

A wealth of good early sorts were being grown starting with Rivers’ Ashleaf Kidney and Sharpe’s Express, seed for which would be imported from England. In favour were also White Elephant (pink and white). Early Rose or Spark’s Victoria pink, Sutton’s Early Perfection, Robin Adair, Beauty of Hebron, Black Kidney and Epicure. The last variety was one of the early favourites, and Mr Lennie says that it must have a record for longterm popularity. Robin Adair was close up in this respect, and Black Kidney was also still seen on show benches. King Edward was another still widely grown in southern districts. Two other varieties which originated about this time were the Knowler, a white kidney selection from Robin Adair and Sir Joseph—a purple kidney with white flesh raised at Winton and named after the late Sir Joseph ■Ward- Collections of 12 varieties were featured at the bigger shows, and this had aided the growth and popularity of these and other varieties of distinct appearance. Mr Lennie recalls that the Knowler was produced by Mr H. Knowler, of Te Tua, Southland, then one of the biggest growers of seed potatoes, and was named by him (Mr Lennie) and put on the market about 1916. It had many good points as a white early cropper. No Certification In those days, Mr Lennie says that there was no certification, price control or market restrictions. Certification, with its area qualifications, meant the end of many varieties, but that did not mean that the old-timers were lacking in eating qualities, as for instance White Elephant and Sutton’s Early were of the highest quality in this respect. Arran Pilot, Epicure, Doon Early, Cliff’s Kidney, Jersey Bennes and Robin Adair passed all the necessary tests as reliable early varieties, but they were not all grown in sufficiently large areas to merit certification. - Among maincrop varieties, only King Edward, among the oldtimers, was still in evidence. Glen Ham, Arran Banner, Dunbar, Standard, Inverness Favourite, Arran Consul and Dakota, had their advantages for marketing challenging Chippewa and Sebago. The last two varieties first came to New Zealand as part of stores for the American forces stationed in New Zealand during World War II and they have since, gained a high place in public favour. Collection of 48 Mr Lennie describes as a milestone the feat of Mr David Martin, of Beaumont, Otago, who exhibited a collection of 48 distinct varieties of potatoes at the Christchurch horticultural show in 1956. This collection was sold in its complete form to an Aucklander. Reviewing potato marketing,

Mr Lennie recalls the uncertainty of the crop for growers and states that certification has helped to stabilise the market as it has reduced the number of varieties. The fantastic prices of 1956—up to £BO a ton to the grower—are not likely to occur again. Climate plays an important part in potato growing, said Mr Lennie. In Great Britain, Scotland excells for the quality and hardness of its seed and, in' New Zealand, the same could be said of the South Island, which furnished most of the table and seed potatoes for the country. “In the history of the potato, very little progress has been made in producing a frost hardy sort, or one immune from the dreaded Irish blight, so that those working on hybrids still have plenty of scope to produce the perfect potato,”: he concluded.